Going to join?

While this will be easier to understand if you are a Warhammer 40k enthusiast, you really don't have to know the game to be able to join in on the role-play. You do, however, have to be willing to take a pointer or two from the veterans. This a role-play, not a game, so there are no number stats or dice involved.

Colonized little more than a couple hundred years ago and long left unexploited by the Imperium of Man, the aptly named Arboria is a world covered in lush forests that have recently fallen under the eye of the Empire. Wasting no time in exploiting a valuable resource, several lumber camps were immediately constructed across the face of the planet. Commerce quickly swelled the inhabitants of the planet and the camps themselves became cities larger than those the first colonists had managed to scratch out in their centuries there.

Naturally there was some basic resistance from the local populace as these camps clashed with the evolved spiritual relationship the people had developed with the forests and the beasts within them. Though previously unnoticed on such an out of the way and unimportant world, these heretical leanings could not be tolerated and all 'plant-worshipers' were slaughtered by a detachment of the Adeptus Sororitas. Not half a standard year later, the Sisters are finally mopping up the supposed last remnants of the recalcitrant population. This delay was due not so much to inefficiency on the Sisters' part, but could be set almost wholly before the fanaticism of their Cannoness, who demanded the purge of every single person even remotely related to the resistance.

Not used to policing a populace already pacified, the Sisters called upon the 32nd Carantan Regulars from the Imperial Guard to take over their duties so that the Sororitas might carry out more glorious orders in more hostile environments. With the 32nd Regulars came a cargo ship with the markings of the Dark Angels Space Marine chapter, ostensibly it came to search the surviving colonists for potential recruits. During the cursory ceremony in which the Sisters' Cannoness handed over official control to the Imperial Guard commander, agents of Chaos and horrors of the Warp appeared from nowhere and tore into the entire command structure of both forces. Desperately outnumbered and outgunned, the surprised forces of the Imperium fought back valiantly and managed to call for help from the main bodies of both the Sisters and the Guard.

Regardless, they would have been overwhelmed before reinforcements could reach them, if not for the mixed blessing of several squads of Dark Angel Terminators appearing in their midst, their teleporters taking them from the cargo ship in orbit and homing in on the furious distress calls of the embattled soldiers of the Imperium. Refusing to respond to hails from the harried Guards and Sisters and smashing down anything that got in their way, they cleared a path through the forces of Chaos that inadvertently allowed the others to escape.

Their Cannoness slaughtered, the Sisters have holed up in the capital city of Dangrek where they were stationed and have refused to budge an inch, efficiently repelling any who attempted to approach them. Fairing slightly better, the Imperial Guard commander survived and quickly organized an inspired defense which crushed the immediate Chaos threat near their camp that lay some tens of miles from the capital and allowed them to begin expanding their zone of control outwards. The Dark Angel's zeal in combat spread their warriors far and wide though their casualties were made light by surprise, heavy armor, and the hardened and veteran nature of their soldiers.

Dark Angels: Scattered in small groups of one or two soldiers across half the hemisphere, these Space Marines are in a very tactically unsound position. However, their troops are the most competent, battle hardened veterans on the planet. Blinded by some all-consuming mission as yet unknown to anyone but themselves, they refuse to pause and regroup and instead charge outwards across the surface of the world, smashing and destroying anything that opposes them. -Terminator- Nearly four meters tall and armored past the ken of most any other being in existence, they are massively powerful juggernauts that are physically capable of tearing their way through tank armor given enough time. Of course, they're still only human and can be killed by lucky shots through damaged spots on the armor and by some direct hits from heavy ordinance. They're massive armored hands can only wield weapons specially designed for them, and while their left hand is naturally a massive kinetic ram, their right may carry a double-barreled automatic pistol that is capable of chewing through even their own armor or a giant Force Hammer capable of smashing through tanks and heavy armor with relative ease. -Tactical Marine- Over two meters tall and with armor capable of withstanding most conventional arms and some glancing blows from heavy ordinance, these smaller fighters are far more agile and speedy than their Terminator counterparts. Though they can't withstand the same direct pounding, their higher speed and ability to wield a variety of weapons make them more useful in many tactical situations. Most any gun carriable by an ordinary man may be made of use to a Tactical Marine, though their standard weaponry is a rifle not dissimilar to the enormous pistol carried by Terminators. Heavy ordinance squads may carry missile launchers, plasma rifles, flamers, and an underslung machine gun capable of throwing out truly massive amounts of bullets and decimating infantry.

Chaos: The gods of Chaos are evil, make no mistake about that, but here they have claimed tree worshipers and spiritualists as their own by offering them untold powers to fight off the Imperium. These poor men and women are slowly losing their souls to a force they don't rightly understand, for the Inquisitors of the Empire have long since scoured away any references to them. Alongside them come demons and horrors, twisted beyond imagining and lusting for blood and destruction. -Chaos Undivided- While Chaos may corrupt the mind of any it touches, regular people and Guardsmen are at greatest risk. The Dark Angels have long since cleansed their ranks of impurities and may not be swayed, but even the holy Sisters may turn to Chaos in their moment of need. As such, the soldiers of Chaos may appear as anything. All rules that apply to classes also apply to their Chaos counterparts, though they do lose some accuracy with their guns and gain ferocity in close combat. Additionally, they may be able to call on their Dark Gods to aid them in small ways either mental, physical, or occasionally both. -Daemonettes- (Picture contains adult imagery.) Though there are many demons of the Warp, only one kind is still present on Arboria. Daemonettes, though not especially powerful as daemons go, are far stronger than any human. Stronger, indeed, than even the Terminators of the Dark Angels. But they are no more intelligent than the average human, and they have very little in the way of protection. Their skin is toughened and can withstand small arms, such as the Imperial Guard's basic lasrifle, but even the standard bolter rifles of the Sisters and Dark Angels can crush them.

Adeptas Sororitas:Also known as the Sisters of Battle, the Adeptas Sororitas serves as the militant branch of the Inquisition since, by law, no man may serve in their army. Zealous and faithful, they fight the enemy as penitent warriors, determined to drive the enemies of the Imperium from the universe. Here and now, on Arboria, some were left behind during the hasty retreat to the capital, leaving them to fend for themselves in a countryside teaming with agents of Chaos or succumb to it's tempting influence. The most devoted of the Sisters are capable of working miracles of varying power, usually focused around healing their allies or bolstering failing moral. In addition, even the least talented Sister is capable of seeing the absolute truth of any situation, though doing so leaves them tired and drained. -Sisters- Similar in armor and basic weaponry to the Space Marines, the Sisters of Battle differ slightly in that they are all white haired and female. Also, though they share the basic rifle of the Space Marines, the Sisters favor fire as a cleansing instrument to burn away impurities. All their heavy weapons are based off of flame or light, meltas that fire lasers that can melt through tank armor, or flamers that excel at burning through lightly armored infantry. While regular Sisters of Battle wear no helmets, those that carry heavy weapons do and are called Celestians. -Seraphim- Seraphim are the best of the Sisters, they're veterans and have been granted jump-packs that allow flight over short distances. In addition, they always carry two bolter pistols which they fire with deadly accuracy.

Imperial Guard:The massed army of the Imperium, the Imperial Guard is made up of regular men given only rudimentary training and crammed into uniforms that rarely fit properly. Their purpose is usually to provide massed forces that are casually tossed aside to achieve objectives for the Empire. It is little wonder that many turn to Chaos, as even those fickle and evil gods are more forgiving than their own officers. Now the main force is holed up in their camp, and masters of trench warfare, they aim to keep it that way. However, during the retreat many squads and individuals were separated from the main contingent. Now isolated Guardsmen wander through the forests and cleared hills of Arboria, desperately trying to find their way back to camp. However, they have no hope in this bleak environment, and only their officers have the strength to survive. -Commisar- Imperial Guardsmen who manage to survive long enough through sheer luck and guts, Commissars are promoted based on faith in the Imperium. They are solidly loyal to their masters, and absolutely ruthless when dealing with their own men. Some more vicious Commissars have been known to shoot some of their own men just to keep the others on their toes. Often they have robotic limbs to replaces their original ones that got lost in battle, and they always wield a power sword and pistol, though the pistol is usually only useful for threatening their own lightly armored troops. They do not wear armor themselves, but rely on walls of their own soldiers to keep them safe. -Priest- Priests are exactly what they sound like. Carriers of the Holy Word and missionaries of the Church of the Imperium, they go into battle with the Imperial Guard not just to give last rites, but to fight for their God. Wielding chainsaws of ancient origin and blessed by a High Inquisitor, they have the power to forbid their men to die no matter how grievous the wound. The power only hold for a short time however, as it draws a great deal of the Priest's strength to hold such strong prayers in his thoughts. Though usually they are dressed only in a plain brown robe, they sometimes don the white armor of their order to better destroy the enemies of the Empire.

The Setting: What I've listed above are the various things that may be encountered, however not all of these are available to you as characters. The first thing you should know is that all characters must have the taint of Chaos upon them. How strong that taint is, is up to you. You may not be a Dark Angel or Daemonette, but all the other options described here are available. But, I reiterate, all must have turned to the Warp in order to gain the dark power of Chaos. Of course, your character may be innocent of the evil nature of these powers, thinking only of defending the balance of nature around you and accepting the aid of these powers which you cannot hope to understand. Nevertheless, their actions and minds will become more bloodthirsty and insane as time wears on.

This taint may come in the form of physical deformities that grant strength, poisonous claws or fangs, toughened skin to act as armor, or etc.; or instead may grant obscene powers of the mind that allow for the spontaneous creation of fireballs, tainting of ground so that all who walk upon it begin to rot, the creation of illusions to frighten enemies, or etc.

The Show: This will be an ongoing environment where new players can join at any time. I shall not be playing a character, per se, but will be acting out the roles of the NPCs around you. However, there will be one NPC who I will play most of the time named Thanatos, who is the starting point of this whole adventure. While you may play out your characters anywhere within the world that you wish, and I will create NPCs and challenges for you to overcome, the main storyline will involve those characters that are with Thanatos. I must reiterate, he is not my character. He is a plot device to take you where you need to go. I will not have a character, as I am the GM and it is merely my job to make sure you guys have fun.

NOTE:Thanatos is a great power, and your characters will not be quite so strong as he is. Thanatos was a Dark Angel Chaplain before he succumbed to the temptation of Chaos. However, he is the only Dark Angel that will be that way, and is a special exception due to a storyline which you will discover as the role play progresses. That said, send me whatever idea you have for a character and I'll see what I can do to make it happen. One of the great things about the power of the Warp is it can bring forth characters with almost any personality or power that you wish.

Equipment Summary: Equipment will be placed here as explanations become necessary. There are simply too many bits of equipment for me to list them all.

Terminator Armor- Four meters tall and weighing more than a ton, terminator armor is extremely bulky. Indeed, it is the hardest of all armors to pierce. Not only is its ceramite body thick and impervious to all but the heaviest of weapons, it carries on its right shoulder an arcane badge that generates a force field of questionable reliability. Several internal systems provide separate services that may depend upon the rank and privilege of the wearer as well as the armor's age. Always Possesses:-Voice Amplifier- Able of reaching a volume loud enough to shatter the eardrums of ordinary men at close range and addressing huge crowds. -Short Range Teleporter- Slow to respond and extremely limited in range, it is primarily useful for moving across rough or impassable terrain.-Rosarius- Arcane badge which generates a force field that is unreliable but also nigh-indestructible. -Environmental Systems- Enable the wearer to withstand extremes of temperature, breathe underwater, and even survive the vacuum of space. -Hydraulic Support- Enhances the wearer's already massive strength enough that he can rip armor plating off a tank. -Ceramite Armor- Impact resistant Ceramo-metallic blend that easily repels small arms fire and even strongly resists heavy weapon fire. May Possess:-Eye of Terror- Enables three dimensional mapping, night vision, heat vision, sonic vision that allows perception of space beyond obstacles(i.e. walls), and x-ray vision which displays locations of vital organs and other internal objects. -Librarian's Hood- Enhances psyker abilities and grants immunity to mental influences. -Crozius Arcanum- A force weapon of unmatched power that resembles an ornate rod. It is also the symbol of office for Chaplains. -Power Fist- Second only to the Crozius Arcanum, it is a power weapon that is extremely ponderous and difficult to properly utilize. Always worn on the left hand. On a lucky strike it can even punch through tank armor in a single strike.

Plasma Rifle- Typically they are carried in two hands, but Terminators may wield them like pistols. They have a slight chance of overheating and melting the hands off those that use them. Again, Terminator armor prevents any harm from overheating. They are a fast-firing, medium-damage weapon best used against heavy or light infantry.

Power Sword- At first glance a regular sword. However, power swords utilize kinetic energy to deliver crushing blows that are effective against both light and heavy infantry.

Chainsword- A sword with a chainsaw for a blade. A trigger on the handle runs it and it has an unlimited power source. About as effective as a power sword, but the end result is much gorier.

Abilities: His pacts with his Dark God have granted him strength beyond even his previous genetic enhancements, and a durability of body that only tank armor can match. However, he has forsaken the gifts of his old God, the Emperor, and many of his devices no longer function. Now his armor is merely that, and does not grant him anything more than its physical protection. The Rosarius on his shoulder lies dormant, refusing to protect him, and he long ago abandoned his Crozius Arcanum as it refused to obey a servant of Chaos. In addition, he is so steeped in the madness of the Warp that no psyker can touch his mind without risking madness.

Background: Once an Interrogator-Chaplain of the Dark Angels, he had been inducted into their most sacred inner-circles. Clearly he has betrayed them, though his reasons are his own. Though that knowledge came too late for several of his brethren, as he had remained among them until the drop planetside and only then revealed his treachery. Striking them down with sickening glee before they could realize what was happening, he brushed aside anyone who got in his way and made his way with a single-minded purpose. Now he searches for other agents of Chaos who might be willing to serve him in discovering his dark dreams.

Personality: Surprisingly pleasant for someone so menacing in appearance, he seems as though he is still the proud and devout protector of mankind that he once was. Still, he does not make jokes, nor does he pay much attention to the jokes of others. In all respects he is but a decent man, albeit one without a sense of humor. But he does laugh, when he lays waste to any who appose him and his God he bellows forth a delighted mirth that is so pure it seems almost childlike.

Description: Behold Thanatos. Though his left pauldron bears a winged sword instead of an iron cross.

If we can get at least four people to join, then yes it will be happening.

And, yes, I am familiar with Space Marines and their ability to ignore damage. However, even a lasgun can kill them if the wielder gets lucky. Long and the short of it, I'm bending the rules a bit so that Space Marines won't be too overpowered.

The warp taint is required because I want all the PCs to be mostly on the same side, and in this case that side is Chaos.

The taint may include very minor psyker ability. And, yes, you can play a Chaos corrupted Commissar. But you should have a good explanation on how such a devout soldier got seduced.